Turkey denounces Syrian presidency election decision

ANKARA - Syria's decision to hold presidential elections in June has been officially denounced by Turkey's Foreign Ministry in a written statement on Thursday.

"The presidential elections announcement made by the Syrian regime, which lost its legitimacy and qualification to rule the country, is disregarding and being insolent to the memories of thousands of massacred Syrians and millions of exiled others, to say the least," said the statement. "It is impossible to take this kind of so-called election serious."

The speaker of the People's Council of Syria said Monday that presidential elections would be held on June 3, 2014, despite an ongoing civil war that has killed more than 100,000 people.